Thelma (Pat) Ryan’s family was very poor. She was the oldest of five children. She was called Pat because she was born right before St. Patrick’s Day.

Pat’s mother and father each died by the time she was 18 years old. She worked her way through college by doing many odd jobs. Pat graduated college with honors. She also helped put her siblings through college, too.

Pat married Richard Nixon in 1940. They moved to Washington, D.C. Richard worked for the government. In 1942, Richard joined the navy.

After the war, in 1946, Richard was elected to the U.S. Congress. Pat helped him win the election. They were known as the Pat and Dick team. Her husband made politics his career.

By 1948, the Nixons had two daughters. Pat enjoyed raising her children. Over time, Pat came to like politics less and less.

In 1968, Richard was elected President. Pat added many pieces of art to the White House. She traveled to many different places. She represented the U.S. on her trips. She arranged her daughter’s wedding in the White House Rose Garden.

Richard Nixon was the center of a big scandal known as Watergate. He had to step down as president. Pat stood by him.

The Nixons went to their home in California. Pat had a stroke in 1976. She was never seen again in public. The Watergate scandal overshadowed her record as First Lady.